Everyone Has a Plausible Plan
First: phone calls only late at night.
Obvious, really. Weekday mornings I have class, and afternoons I'm off at my part-time job. The only time I can relax and talk freely while wearing the skin is late at night or in the small hours. So for everyday conversation, we'll stick mostly to texts and KakaoTalk. I've already floated the line, "I've gotten so busy lately—could we save our calls for the weekends?" so I can rest easy on that front for now.
Second: never mix up the numbers.
I currently use two phone numbers. My original one, and "Yu Haeun's." Before I dial anyone, I must check which number I'm calling from. Picture it from Chiwon's side: he calls his best friend, and "Yu Haeun's" voice comes out of the phone. He'd probably come kill me.
Third: sex with clothes on.
I somehow managed to talk my way past the zipper, but the strip running straight down the middle of my back leaves no room for excuses. We did it at Lotte World in the dark, so thankfully he didn't seem to notice, but from now on I absolutely have to keep my top on. And if that's not doable, the fallback plan is: lights off.
Fourth: watch what I say.
The most important one of all. When I'm wearing the skin and meeting Chiwon, I avoid mentioning "me." When I'm meeting him as usual, I avoid mentioning "Yu Haeun." On paper, Yu Haeun and I are friends-of-a-friend, so the moment we seem to know each other too well, things get messy in every possible way.
"Mmmgh... what else is there..."
I clutch my head and rack my brain. What am I doing right now, you ask? Drawing up a list of precautions so Chiwon never catches me in the skin. If you asked why I hadn't thought all this through ages ago, I'd have no answer... though it does feel a little unfair. I never planned on accepting a confession in the first place—I just got swept up in the moment and let it happen.
Not that I regret it. Judged objectively, as a woman, Chiwon is a fine catch. Handsome, great body, easygoing personality. He's a bit of a fumbling novice for lack of experience, but that'll smooth out the more time we spend together. If I'd been a woman from the start, wouldn't I have confessed to someone like him long ago?
Oh—come to think of it, I forgot to call. I told him "I'll text you when I'm home" when we parted yesterday, and then I was so tired I passed out cold without even taking the skin off. I grab my phone and dial Chiwon. One ring, two rings, and then his voice. He picks up fast.
"Hey, Haeun! What's up?"
"What do you think? I said I'd let you know once I got home yesterday, remember? Sorry for calling so late."
"No, it's fine. Easy enough to forget."
"Did you get home okay yesterday?"
"I was fine, nothing happened. You, though... um, were you okay?"
"Other than people wrinkling their noses like they'd caught a whiff of something strange, nothing at aaall happened!"
"I said I was sorry... You're not mad, are you?"
I answer Chiwon's careful question with a fit of giggles. Just kidding, just kidding.
"Anyway, you came a lot, you know that? That was your first time doing it, wasn't it?"
"Of course it was. I'd never even had a girlfriend before I met you."
"Ehhh, that sounds like a lie to me~"
"Hey, I'm telling you it's true. Ha... and there's no way to prove it, either..."
It did genuinely startle me, I'll admit. He'd finished right in front of my ass, and the semen spattered all the way up over my head. Which is why I'd reeked of night flowers from every inch of my body, and why the subway ride home turned into a session of completely unintended humiliation play.
"What were you up to just now?"
"Jogging along the river. You?"
Ah, no wonder I could hear wind. His breathing was heavy, too.
"Me? Lying in bed on my phone. Isn't it a little early in the day to be exercising?"
"It's past ten in the morning, what are you on about. Want to come work out with me?"
"Nooo thanks. I struggle through my weekdays, so weekends are for resting up."
"Haha..."
The idle chatter rolls on. Had I eaten? Where should we meet next time? Which of the songs trending these days did I like? The same trivial things we used to trade now and then. But maybe because this was lovers' talk now, not friends' talk, every bit of it felt strangely new. By the time I came back to myself, an hour and a half had slipped by.
"...Right. Um, it's just about lunchtime for me."
"Oh, right. Wow, has that much time gone by already?"
"I'm surprised too, you know? This is the longest I've ever been on the phone with a man. Dad not included."
"Ahaha... then I should head back too. Okay, enjoy your lunch!"
"Will do. I'll message you on KakaoTalk later~"
I hang up and knead both cheeks with my hands. Hnnngh, my mouth aches... and my throat's parched. How on earth do women manage to spend hours on the phone every single day? I was still pondering that mystery on my way to the fridge when—huh, my phone rings. I glance at the screen. Chiwon. A call for me—not for "Yu Haeun." I yank the zipper down in a panic, pull just my face free of the skin, and answer.
"Hello?"
"InjeeEEEEEE!"
What is wrong with this guy? He was perfectly normal not five minutes ago.
"Keep it down, my ears hurt. Been drinking since breakfast?"
"What's that supposed to mean... Anyway, it's not that—it's about Haeun."
"Haeun...? Oh, Yu Haeun. Don't tell me you two are actually dating now?"
I already knew, of course, but I'd better play surprised.
"Yeah. I confessed to her yesterday at Lotte World."
"Oh... congrats, man. Finally escaping the single life, huh?"
"Right? Anyway, I figured I owed you the news. You're the reason I got to meet Haeun in the first place. Seriously—thanks."
"Just words?"
"Next time we meet, drinks are on me. That settle it?"
"Fine, fine. Congrats on things working out with her—and you two had better last, you hear?"
"Obviously. You just be careful you and Yerim don't break up."
"Will do. Hanging up now? We'll talk details when we meet."
"Yeah, I'll hit you up when I've got time."
The line goes dead. Phew—that one was close. If I'd answered on autopilot with the skin still on, it could have been a genuine disaster. Without precaution number two written down, I'd have slipped up for sure. And speaking of which—does this guy really dial me the instant he gets off the phone with his girlfriend...
I tuck my head back inside the skin. Partly because a man's head perched on a petite woman's body is not a sight I care to dwell on, and partly because it's time for lunch. This body gets far more out of a meal than my male one—more than "Park Yerim's," too. A single bowl of ramen at Lotte World had nearly finished me off. Maybe it's just the smaller frame?
Today's lunch is instant rice and Spam. I've lived alone for quite a few years now, and my cooking has not improved one iota. There are plenty of reasons for that, I'm sure, but "can't be bothered" probably tops the list. I drag myself home late on weekdays and sleep past noon on weekends, so I've never been in any mood to cook anything proper. Then, the instant I shovel the first spoonful of rice into my mouth, a flash of inspiration strikes.
Hold on... a woman who cooks—that's the domestic type, isn't it?
I have zero intention of marrying Chiwon, but cooking for him with my own hands... actually sounded like a pretty solid idea. I'd always wanted a girlfriend to do that for me, too. And once I got good, I could make whatever I was craving at home whenever I liked—surely a win all around?
I cram the rest of the rice into my mouth and change skins—from "Yu Haeun's" to "Park Yerim's." Why not wear "Yu Haeun," you ask? Two reasons come to mind.
First, short of unavoidable circumstances, I don't want to be wandering this neighborhood in "Yu Haeun's" body—an accident could happen, after all. And the other reason, the more important one: I stink. Not the body—the clothes. "Yu Haeun" owns exactly one set each of underwear and outerwear, and yesterday's sex had soaked the scent of night flowers deep into every thread. The subway was one thing—I had to get home, so I'd squeezed my eyes shut and endured it. But there was no need to go wafting that smell around my own block.
Then why not just head out without a skin at all? True, the male body would be handier for lugging bags of shopping back home. But if I'm going out anyway, I'd rather be pretty. I like how the stares gather when I walk down the street in the skin.
Today's outfit: a short-sleeved top, jeans, and a cap—summer is creeping closer and the days are getting warmer. The skin won't sunburn, but sweat is still a nuisance. I gather my hair into a single tail and tie it off with a hair tie. Early on I used to botch it and end up with a bird's nest, but these days I can manage even elaborate styles without a hitch.
"Oh, right—almost forgot..."
I nearly did forget. I open the drawer, fish out a bandage, and carefully smooth it over the nape of my neck, right across the zipper. Can't have it catching eyes the way it did yesterday.
Now then, what do I need to buy today...
Today's cooking challenge: rolled omelette and soybean paste stew. The cookware's all in place, so all I need are the ingredients. Let's see—eggs, soybean paste, tofu, potatoes, zucchini, and... aaargh, this is complicated! For a first-time cook, I'd picked a pretty ambitious menu, but I didn't want to give up here. Because I have a dream. Someday, in the park, with a cool breeze on our faces, I'll hand over a homemade lunchbox with the words: "Here you go. I made it myself."
"Rough list sorted—shall we get going?"
I open the door and bright sunlight greets me. Mm, gorgeous weather. Not even that hot. Surely this is a sign from the heavens that my first dish will come out perfect?
...It was not.